SOC 25-2057 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Middle School — Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Oklahoma is $50,450 a year, trailing the national median of $66,810 by 24.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Oklahoma is $50,450 a year, trailing the national median of $66,810 by 24.5%. Half of workers earn between $47,850 and $59,510. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $45,400 and the ninetieth at $73,160.
The area has 930 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.89 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Oklahoma ranks 50th by median wage. Lawton leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $60,770. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 360th of 710 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,400 | −32.0% |
| 25th | $47,850 | −28.4% |
| Median (50th) | $50,450 | −24.5% |
| 75th | $59,510 | −10.9% |
| 90th | $73,160 | +9.5% |
| Mean | $56,310 | −15.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Oklahoma
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawton | $60,770 | 50 | |
| 2 | Oklahoma City | $58,120 | 380 | |
| 3 | Tulsa | $49,590 | 240 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Oklahoma run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $50,450 goes as far as $57,460 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,450as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$57,460US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,450 a year, 24.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,400 to $73,160 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 930 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 50th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lawton, at $60,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Middle School in Oklahoma?
The median annual wage is $50,450, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $66,810, so pay in Oklahoma is 24.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Oklahoma earns more than $73,160 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,400 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lawton, at $60,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 930 jobs in this occupation in Oklahoma. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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